Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-06-11
UNIQUE DINNERS.
Eccentricities at Dinner
Tables in the Metropolis.
Artistic Skill in Cutting Fruit and Vege-
tables, Practical Jokes, Etc

'Eccentricities at the dinner-tables,"
says New York correspondent OF the
Detroit Post ''seems to be the rage this
season. Any startling or unique inno-
walton appears to be welcome. The
fresh young man, who cuts human
face on an orange and then squeezes the
fruit until the eyes weep and the mouth
drlzzlcs, is in his glory. If ladies are at /
the table, he takes greater pleasure 10
exhibiting his artistic skill A few
smile, some give vent TO exclamations
Of commisscratlon, and others preserve a
dignifcd silence. Peeling an orange
geometrically is another accomplish
ment. The yellow rind is cut in lines
with a sharp penknife until it re
sembles the prisoners puzzle" just now
attracting 50 much attention. The skin
is then stripped from the fruit in sec
tions, making quaint angles, made anus
ing by the explanations accompanying
them. The apple, the Malaga grape, the !
radish, and the banana also afford much
amusement in the hands of accomplished
artists. Indeed, one man has won such
eclat by his skill in carving vegetables
and esculents that he is known in society
as Banana Bob"
frequently these dining-table eccen-
tricities are turned into practical jokes.
At a little dinner given to ex- Sheriff
William Wright of Newark, N. j., at
George Hopcraft's recently, the guests
were in a continual roar OF laughter The
chocolate cream candies were stuffed
with cotton, the lemon drops were made
of gum suaincum, and the candicd al
monds were filled with Tabasco sauce.
Vegetables in covered dishes were placed
on the table with each course. and the
guests were asked to assist in serving
them. In removing the covers live
eel, an enormous bullfrog and a huge
lizard from Lake Ontario were disclosed.
All were extremely lively The eel
slipped within the low-cut waistcoat of
the Sheriff, the bullfrog landed on Fish
Commissioner Charles Murphy's shoulder
and the lizard shot into the bosom of the
u. wicked Senator Gibbs. An old shoe,
mildewed and rotten, was placed before
! Mr.. McSwyny, well-known shoemaker.
| He grew red in the face and was about
to treat the matter as a mortal insult,
when James Oliver of Paradise
Park turned the old shoe over,
opened slide in the sole, and disclosed
a dozen cigars of the finest flavor. The
shoe was candled dummy, made to Or
der. The little party became so bolster
Gus in its merriment that a police officer
of1rish descent appeared. On seeing
the condition of the table, the room, and
its occupants, he apologizcd for his in
trusion, saying: "Shln fanel shin fame
thought yees were having bit of q
ruction, but it's nothin' but u shindyr'
He improved the opportunity offer d
while all heads were turned listening
to good story to sweep the remains OF
the confectionery into his capacioua
coat pocket. The theft was discovered
after his departure. 'If his wife get:
a chocolate cream, his mother in-l law {
lemon drop and the youngest child ar
almond bean, what happy time that
policeman will have after he gets home, ,
observed the sheriff, and the hilarity wa
redoubled.
| hear OF dinners in the avenue where
living canarics fly out of tac pies and
where bouquets Of choice flowers hoopc6
with diamond rings are placed at th'
plate of each guest At another enter
tainment tiny oil paintings on leaves oi
ivory depicted scenes in the life o
each guest Uncle Rufus Hatch dis
played an unmatched eccentricity prio
to his departure to Europe. He had IN
vited friend to dine with him in
private room At Morcllrs. An excellen
dinner was served A. its conclusion
and while the coffee was stcamng, Rufu
called for Cubanos. Thy were brou- -ht
"Now bring Us light, said the ex
nacnate from Wall street. The waite
lighted a short snowE-wickei candle
RUFUS raised the china candlestick I
his mouth and lighted the cigar. II
then replaced the stick on the table
and to the surprise Of his guest took tn
lighted candle from It's socket, put It i
his mouth, ate ani swallowed it. Fl
CHANGED not muscle Of his conntenance
:. but there was merry twinkle in h
gray evcs. A similar candle was place
before his guest, who also lighted h
cigar When asked WIS hc aii not es
the taper he replied that he was no ca
sack. Thereupon Rafls opened i
mouth and sen, the second candle int
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